Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway
Encyclopedia
The Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway which operated as the Atlantic & Danville Railway prior to 1962, at one time operated 250 miles of track between Portsmouth
(on the harbor of Hampton Roads adjacent to Norfolk
) and Danville, Virginia
. There was also a 50 mile branch from near Emporia to Claremont
on the James River
plus several shorter branches. It was under lease to the Southern Railway
when it became independent. It was acquired by the Norfolk and Western Railway
in 1962 and operated as NF&D with second generation diesels. The Claremont branch is long gone, and the main line is gone between Lawrenceville and Blanche. NF&D started when they took over the Atlantic and Danville Railway.http://www.southamptoncounty.org/history.asp
The former trackage is now operated as a couple of branch lines by the Norfolk Southern Railway
, with the exception of the portion east of Suffolk to Portsmouth
which is now operated by a short line railroad, the Commonwealth Railway
.
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
(on the harbor of Hampton Roads adjacent to Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
) and Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. There was also a 50 mile branch from near Emporia to Claremont
Claremont, Virginia
Claremont is an incorporated town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 343 at the 2000 census.- History :A granite marker in a circle in the center of town commemorates the landing here on May 5, 1607, of English settlers...
on the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
plus several shorter branches. It was under lease to the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
when it became independent. It was acquired by the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
in 1962 and operated as NF&D with second generation diesels. The Claremont branch is long gone, and the main line is gone between Lawrenceville and Blanche. NF&D started when they took over the Atlantic and Danville Railway.http://www.southamptoncounty.org/history.asp
The former trackage is now operated as a couple of branch lines by the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
, with the exception of the portion east of Suffolk to Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
which is now operated by a short line railroad, the Commonwealth Railway
Commonwealth Railway
The Commonwealth Railway, Inc. is a Class III short-line railroad operating of track of a former Norfolk, Franklin and Danville Railway line from Suffolk, Virginia, to Portsmouth, Virginia. The main office is in the Wilroy area of Suffolk. Commonwealth Railway is owned by Genesee & Wyoming Inc....
.